tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7028661.post115838734517371031..comments2023-08-05T09:53:24.002-06:00Comments on twenty feet: A Pickle for the LiteralistsJacobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06106718028421755149noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7028661.post-1159047784459357942006-09-23T15:43:00.000-06:002006-09-23T15:43:00.000-06:00hmm... interesting thoughts Jake... I'm thinking.....hmm... interesting thoughts Jake... I'm thinking..Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00893631372476292228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7028661.post-1158889173364743702006-09-21T19:39:00.000-06:002006-09-21T19:39:00.000-06:00Personally, I believe God cares very little for do...Personally, I believe God cares very little for doctrinal accuracy. I think it's very telling that neither Jesus nor any of the New Testament writers bothered to create any sort of detailed creed (something that every modern church or ministry apparently feels obligated to do). These came centuries later. Certainly the Bible contains doctrine, in fact many of the epistles were written primarily to refute one or more heresies, but it seems that heresies are condemned not for being unorthodox or wrong, but for their detrimental effects on those who believe them. Biblically, it seems right belief is valuable only to the extent that it genuinely, positively effects our lives (James 2:14-25). <BR/><BR/>Many believe that <I>any</I> deviation from their long and detailed list of correct doctrine - including the trinity, six day creation, and women keeping silent in church - will be damaging to one's faith and Christian life, but I see little support for this view scripturally or experientially.Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06106718028421755149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7028661.post-1158858647564262852006-09-21T11:10:00.000-06:002006-09-21T11:10:00.000-06:00Can't say I read the whole genesis thing, but...I ...Can't say I read the whole genesis thing, but...<BR/><BR/>I wonder how much doctrinal accuracy matters to God, how much he cares how our beliefs align with the true truth. There are certainly Biblical passages that seem to suggest this is important (not the least of which the suggestion that the "name of Jesus" is the only way we can be saved)... but since even Christians disagree, a lot, and God doesn't seem to step in and sort out all this presumably incorrect dogma...<BR/><BR/>I dunno, just found it an interesting thought.Filth- Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09449473866310583362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7028661.post-1158531986800243182006-09-17T16:26:00.000-06:002006-09-17T16:26:00.000-06:00An interesting question. I suppose you could look...An interesting question. I suppose you could look at the medieval church as an example of the Christianity without the Bible. (Not that there were no Bibles at all then, but I don't think they were widely used. ) Since the Bible is generally regarded as the authority, or at least the primary guide by all Christians, if you removed it altogether, we'd either have to establish some other authority (like a Pope) or each go our own way.<BR/><BR/>I think conservatives recognize this - that our choices basically boil down to trusting the Bible, trusting some person, or trusting ourselves. While I agree that the Bible is a better guide than a Pope or personal feelings, I <I>don't</I> believe that it is necessary for our guide to be trusted unquestioningly or crowned with infallibility. And I <I>certainly</I> don't believe (and this is my main point) that the Bible is infallible and unquestionable as understood through a cursory and unscholarly reading by a 21st century Canadian. Too often such a reading will merely reinforce our preconceptions and prejudices.<BR/><BR/>I believe there has to be a tension between trusting the Bible (as we understand it), trusting scholars and spiritual authorities, and trusting our own intuitions and reason. To throw all our trust on any one of the three certainly makes things easier, but it’s dangerous. Sorry, I’m rambling.<BR/><BR/>You ask whether the Christian faith could survive without the Bible. If by Christian faith you mean a collection of doctrines, then I doubt it. But if “Christian faith” means faithfulness to the teachings and example of Jesus (which I’m told is a far more Biblical understanding of the word faith) then I think it might. Something would probably have to be written down at some point for the sake of future generations, but it would be something - or more likely somethings - written by mere mortals and hopefully recognized as fallible. Something that bore little resemblance to a creed, but was more like a collection of stories - something (I realized as I wrote this) very much like the Gospels and Acts. So maybe something like the Bible is necessary. But an infallible, God-penned list of dogmas? No.Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06106718028421755149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7028661.post-1158453635588851832006-09-16T18:40:00.000-06:002006-09-16T18:40:00.000-06:00interesting stuff there Jacob.Personally, I don't ...interesting stuff there Jacob.<BR/><BR/>Personally, I don't care if the 7 days were literal or not. I don't think it holds much importance for my life or faith really. I mean, it's important to me that I believe that God created it all. But I comprehend that the technicalities are beyond my reach and my mortal mind. <BR/><BR/>I agree with you though... (or with what I understand you to be saying)... that it's unwise and maybe even prideful of someone to take the bible and assume that it must be literal or that it must be exactly as they see it or wish it to be. It is foolish to believe that it is straight-forward or easily understandable. <BR/><BR/>Here's a question. Do you think that the Christian faith could/can exist without the presence of the Bible? Like, say, not that the Bible is not held to be valid, simply that it did not exist. <BR/><BR/>Hmm, maybe that's just a random irrelevant question... it just came out of the blue... it'd be interesting to imagine Christian faith without the Bible...Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00893631372476292228noreply@blogger.com